From Archaea to the Atmosphere: Integrating Microbial, Isotopic and Landscape-Scale Observations to Quantify Methane Emissions from Global High-Latitude Ecosystems

Ruth K. Varner, University of New Hampshire, ruth.varner@unh.edu (Presenter)
Michael Palace, ESRC-University of New Hampshire, michael.palace@unh.edu
Virginia Rich, Ohio State University, virginia.isabel.rich@gmail.com
Justin Fisk, Applied Geosolutions, Inc., jfisk@appliedgeosolutions.com
Bobby H. Braswell, Applied GeoSolutions, rbraswell@appliedgeosolutions.com
Nathan Torbick, Applied Geosolutions, ntorbick@appliedgeosolutions.com
Carmody McCalley, Rochester Institute of Technology, ckmsbi@rit.edu
Jia Deng, University of New Hampshire, dengjia85@gmail.com
Joanne Shorter, Aerodyne Research, Inc., shorter@aerodyne.com
Patrick Crill, Stockholm University, patrick.crill@geo.su.se
Christina Herrick, University of New Hampshire, herrick@eos.sr.unh.edu
L. Jamie Lamit, Syracuse University, ljlamit@mtu.edu

High latitude peatlands are a significant source of atmospheric methane. These sources are spatially and temporally heterogeneous, resulting in a wide range of global estimates for the atmospheric budget. At these high latitudes, increasing atmospheric temperatures are causing degradation of permafrost, creating changes in surface moisture, hydrology, vegetation and microbial communities resulting in dynamic changes to methane cycling. The temporal and spatial scale of disturbance from permafrost degradation varies depending on the transfer of heat and the hydrological connectivity of an ecosystem. The primary goal of our proposed work is to to combine remote sensing data and biogeochemical modeling to quantify methane emissions and isofluxes at the pan-arctic scale. We will accomplish this goal by addressing the following objectives:

1. Improve the ability of biogeochemical models to reliably estimate emissions of methane and 13CH4 from high latitude ecosystems by linking above and belowground processes through measurements and modeling,

2. Improve the estimate of water table and land cover using remote sensing techniques to be able to scale CH4 and 13CH4 emissions, and

3. Produce multi-scale scale maps of emissions and isofluxes and errors associated by using remote sensing (Landsat, MODIS, PALSAR-2, Sentinel-1, WorldView2, UAS, G-LIHT) to scale to the pan-Arctic region

Using this combination of a validated biogeochemical process-based-model with ground verified multi-temporal and spatial remote sensing platforms, we will estimate the spatial distribution of methane emissions and its C isotopes across the high latitude peatland

ecosystems. This project will quantitatively reduce uncertainties in the global methane budget related to these ecosystems and will allow us to link below and above ground processes on large spatial scales using cutting edge microbial, isotopic and remote sensing techniques.

Poster Location ID: 32

Session Assigned: Carbon Dynamics